Machine for playing disk-type phonograph records



April 30, 1957 E. SCHWEITZER 2,790,644

MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed April so, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 1 liliilmillllszllml INVENTOR. w 'zummm cikaz 194m- I w mwij ATTOR/Vf Y5.

pril 30, 1957 E. SCHWEITZER 2,790,644

MACHINE FOR PLAYING DISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Filed April 30, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORWE Y6 United States Patent MACHINE FOR PLAYINGDISK-TYPE PHONOGRAPH RECORDS Erich Schweitzer, Kenmore,-N. Y., assiguorto Markel Electric Products,.Inc., Buffalo, N.'-Y., a corporation of NewYork Application April 30, 1952, SeriaYN'o; 285,120

6 Claims. (Cl. 274-) This invention relatesto a. machine: for playingdisktype phonograph records and more particularly. to such a machine ofthe type. shownin the Ansley.- Patent No. 2,555,895 and the Wilber-Patent No. 2,555,910, both dated June 5, 1951 which automatically playsasuccession of such records on both faces thereof, the machine preferablyalso being adapted however, under manual control, for the playing ofrecords singly; for the playing of records each on one'face only;,andfor manual rejection of the playing of any. faceof any record as may bedesired.

In common with the above patentaimportant objectsof the presentinvention'are to provide such. a machine which does. not requireanincrease in-the size of the cabinet, as compared with a droprecordplayer playing a succession or records from one side only; inwhich there is no interference with thefree loadingor. unloading ofrecords; in which the reversal in rotation of the record whenplayedfromitsopposite sides iseifected by a simple groupof wheels drivenby;the-turntableor from played records on the turntable; in which therecords are turned at the same speed in either direction ofrotation andin which wheel slippageis reduced to a minimum; which is adapted to moststandard types of record players in converting the same to a machinewhich will play the records from both sides thereof; which is gentle inits action to avoidrecord. wear and breakage; which is extremely low incostandpermitsthe manufacture'and sale of a drop; type record changerwhich will play both sides of the records at only a slight addition tosimilar machines for automatically playing the records from only oneside thereof; and which is extremely simple and rugged in constructionand will stand up. under conditions of severe and constant use withoutgettingou-t of order This counterbalancing also reduces wear, both ofthe records and also of the mechanism;

Another specific object of the invention'is-to provide a mechanismcomposed'o't parts "that can readily be machined and assembled at'loWcost and which are rugged anddurable both individuallyantl also intheir'assembled relation. 7

Another specific object' is to use the-vertical movement or the posts toeffect the turning movement thereof.

Another important specific object is to provide a record player capableof playing both-sides of a stack of records which canreadily be'converted to'a single side record playerzbythe elimination of:additional partswhich make it capable of pl'ayinghoth sides of therecords: By this the manufacturencan produce both types from 2,790,644Patented Apr. 30, 1957 the sameparts and merely useadditional'partstoproduce the two side player.

Another specific object of the present invention is to avoid theinterconnecting linkage, shown in these said patents, between the postscarrying these wheels, and to provide a mechanism for moving each postwhich is independent of the similar mechanisms for moving the uniformlysynchronized movement of all of the posts and wheels.

Another object of the invention is to'provide'a simple adjustment forthe effect of the springsused to counterassociated with each of theposts'carrying the wheels which provide reversal and rotation of therecords.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontalsection taken on line 5-5,Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottomplanzview particularly showing themechanism for actuating oneof the posts.

The operating parts of the record changer'are shownas mounted on a bedplate 10 which is generally' square' in plan and is shown as havingamarginal flange'll and A horizontal, relatively thick metal subplate 20is arranged below the bed plate 10 in spaced relation thereto and isfixed to this bed plate by three metal brackets 21= spaced generallyuniformly about the well or recess 12. Each of these brackets extendsradially-and has an upper horizontal part 22 which is suitably securedto the und'erside of the bed plate 10, a central vertical part 23 whichis arranged alongside the vertical wall 15 of the well 12- and ahorizontal inner part 24 whichis arranged under and projects beyond thelower circular flange 16. of. the well 12 toward the axis of theturntable 13. The subplate 20 is secured to the lower inner ends of eachof the three brackets 21 by a pair of bolts 25 passing through eachbracket'Zl and the subplate 20 and these bolts"25- are provided withnuts 26. The downwardly spaced relationof the subplate 20 is maintainedby a spacing sleeve '28 surrounding each of the bolts 25;

The subplate 26 is provided with a circular hole'30 concentric with theaxis of rotation with the turntable-13. On the subplate, concentric withthis hole 34), is mounted an upstanding sleeve 31 having a bore 32'ofapproximately.

the same size as the hole 30. Thisupstanding sleeve 31 is provided witha circular base 33 resting on the. subplate and this circular base 33has an upstandingrim 34.

Arranged within the bore 32 of this upstanding sleeve 31 is the reducedlower end 35 of'a stationary centeripost spindle 36, the upper end 38 ofthis spindle being enlarged, thereby to form a'shoulder- 39 resting ontheup'per'en'd of the upstanding sleeve '31. The'lower reduced end 35"of the center post spindle 36 is threaded, as indicated at 40, and onthis threaded portion is screwed a sleeve nut 41. The upper end of thissleeve nut is provided with a radially outwardly extending flange 42which seats against the underside of the subplate 20. It will be seenthat when this sleeve nut is tightened against the underside of thesubplate 20, it fixedly attaches the center post spindle 36, as well asthe upstanding sleeve 31, rigidly to the subplate t 20.

The'turntable 13 is provided with a center hole 45 through which theturntable spindle 36 projects upwardly a substantial distance above theturntable. Concentric with this hole the turntable is provided with adepending hub 46 having a concentric through bore 48. The lower end ofthe turntable hub 46 rests on the upper race of a ball bearing 49, thelower race resting on a gear 50 which in turn rests on the upstandingrim 34 of the base 33 of the upstanding sleeve 31. The turntable ispreferably provided with a conventional rim drive (not shown).

The records 53 to be played are of conventional form,

each having, as shown in Fig. 1, a center hole 54 and each having, onits opposite sides, a marginal starting groove 55 leading to a spiralplaying groove 56 and which latter terminates in an eccentric circulargroove 58 at the center of the record.

Any form of mechanism can be provided for supporting a stack 59 of suchrecords 53 above and concentric with the turntable and for releasing thelowermost record from the stack to fall toward the turntable. Themechanism for this purpose shown comprises a horizontal offset 60provided at the upper end 38 of the stationary spindle 36 so as toprovide a moon-shaped shoulder 61 for supporting the lowermost record ofthe stack 59 threaded on the upper offset 60 of this spindle. On theside opposite the shoulder 61 the lower end of the offset 60 is providedwith a curving indent 62, this curving indent facilitating the removalof the stack of played records from the turntable 13. To insure that thelowermost record of the stack 59 properly seats on the shoulder 61 whenthe stack is threaded on the center post spindle, its ofliset 60 isprovided with a vertically sliding sleeve 63 the lower end of whichrests on a seat 64 and the opposite lower part of which extends aroundand renders inopera: tive the indent 62 when the stack of records arebeing placed upon the shoulder 61. The vertical spacing of the shoulders61 and 64 is slightly more than a record thickness. To retain thissleeve 63 on the offset 60, this offset is provided with a vertical slot65 into which a tent 66 of the sleeve 63 projects, this slot 65terminating short of the top of the otfset 60 so that this sleeve cannotbe removed upwardly from the offset.

\ The successive dropping of the lowermost record from the stack 59 iseffected by a sleeve 68 having an upper reduced part 69 closely fittingthe upper enlarged part 38 of the center post spindle 36. The upper endof this sleeve 68 is flush with the moon-shaped seat 61 of the center.post 36 and on one side an upstanding finger 70 projects above this seat61. The lower end 71 of this record changing sleeve 68 is enlarged tofit around the upstanding sleeve 31 and also to closely fit the bore 48of the turntable hub 46. The lower end of this enlarged part7l of thesleeve 68 rests on the base 33 of the upstanding sleeve31 and is fast tothe gear 50 through a key 72. This gear 50 meshes with a gear 73 whichis actuated through a mechanism (not shown) to turn the gear 5t) andsleeve 68 360 in proper sequence to drop the lowermost record 53 of thestack 59 into playing position. The first 180 of this rotation of thesleeve 68 actuates the finger 70 so as to shift the lowermost record ofthe stack 59 into a position concentric with the sleeve 68 whereupon itdrops toward the turntable 13. The sue ceeding 180 rotation of thefinger 70 brings it back to enter, the center hole 54 of the nextlowermost. record of the stack for a repetition of this cycle.

The records 53 on or above the turntable 13 are shown as played by apick-up 75 at the outer end of a tone arm 76. For the purpose of theinvention the pick-up 75 is shown as having one stylus 78 extendingdownwardly and another stylus 78a extending upwardly. Each stylus can,of course, be of any suitable form and is conventionally shown as beingin the form of a needle. The opposite end 79 of the tone arm 76 ispivotally mounted, in the usual manner, so that its outer end is capableof vertical and horizontal movement to play records arranged concentricwith the axis of the turntable 13. This mounting for the tone arm, aswell as the mechanism for automatically moving the tone arm away fromthe record, following the playing of this record and also shifting ithorizontally to the inoperative position shown and returning it to aposition to engage one of its styluses 78 or 7811 with the startinggroove 55 of the next record to be played forms no part of the presentinvention and hence is not shown.

The invention is concerned with the mechanism for receiving, rotating,and releasing a record dropped from the shoulder 61, particularly, butnot necessarily, to permit playing of both sides of a succession ofrecords. This mechanism is shown as constructed as follows:

Three rubber tired wheels 80, are provided each of which is mounted forfree rotation on the end of a corresponding arm 81, each arm forming acontinuation of the upper end of a corresponding vertically sliding post82. Each of these posts 82 is slidingly journalled in a correspondingvertical bearing 83, in the upper end 84 of a sleeve 85 extendingthrough holes 86 and 88 in the bed plate 16) and bracket 21,respectively. This sleeve is centrally provided with a radiallyoutwardly projecting flange 89 which rests against and is secured to theunderside of the corresponding bracket 21. The lower end 90 of thissleeve 85 projects downwardly from this flange 89 and its lowerextremity is reduced to provide a downwardly facing annular shoulder 91.A collar 92 is fitted over this reduced lower end of the sleeve 85against the downwardly facing sleeve 91 and this collar is shown asretained in position by a split retaining ring 93 provided in an annulargroove at the lower extremity of the sleeve 85.

A grooved sleeve 95 is slidingly and rotatably fitted in the lower end90 of this fixed sleeve 85 and closely fits the lower end of thecorresponding vertically sliding post 82. The lower end of each slidingpost 82 projects below its grooved sleeve 95 and has fastened thereto aretaining ring or washer 96, preferably by a retaining head 98 at thelower end of each post 82. A small helical compression spring 99surrounds the lower end of each post 82 and is interposed between thelower end of the corresponding grooved sleeve 95 and the retaining ringor washer 96 so as to bias the grooved sleeve 95 upwardly and the centerpost 82 downwardly with reference to each other. Each grooved sleeve 95is so biased upwardly against a cross pin 100 through each sliding post82, this cross pin normally resting in a pair of radial V-grooves 101 inthe upper end of the grooved sleeve 95 as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Each arm 81 is arranged at a slight angle to the horizontal so that itsouter end is disposed below the upper end of the post 82 and so that thethree wheels 80 are arranged in slight angleto the vertical.

The mounting for each post 82 permits its wheel 80 to be raised andlowered from the full line to the dot dash line position shown in Fig. 2and also permits the post 82 to swing the wheel from this dot dash lineposition to the dotted line position shown in this figure. The threeposts 82 are arranged adjacent the rim of the turntable 13 at threepoints around this rim so that the wheels 80 can be swung to a positionin which their axes substantially intersect one another adjacent theaxis of rotation of the turntable so as to be-capable of supporting and'(together with the grooved sleeve slots 112 permits such adjustment.'screws 113: can be tightened to maintain such adjustment.

grooves is provided with an upper vertical part and a-lower helical.part.106, this lower helical part forming a downwardcontinuation of thestraight upper vertical part and terminating at the lower; edge of thesleeve 95 at a position approximately 180 opposite the upper verticalstraight part.

Ahorizontalscrew -108 fits in a threaded hole 169 through the collar 92,asbestshown in Fig. 3, and is provided atits outer end witha lock nut116 tightening against the outer face of this collar 95. The inner re-'duced end'lll of this'screw is rounded and closely fits the face groove103 of the grooved sleeve 95. The inclined sides 104 of this face groove95 and this rounding head 111 of the -screw108 permits of obtaining avery fine tolerance Qtherebetween. Thus with this arrangement'the screw108 can be tightened until its rounding head 111 seizes the inclinedside walls 104 of the groove 103. The screw108 can then be backed off afraction of a turnuntil its rounding head 111 just clears the inclinedsidewalls 104: of the groove 103. The lock nut 110 can then be tightenedand in this position of the parts a sliding fit is obtained between eachgroove 103 and the rounding head 111-of the screw 108 while at the sametime there'is substantially no play which would permit an undesiredhorizontal oscillation of the post '82. It will also be seen that wheneach post 82 is lifted the rounding head 111 of its'screw 108 will ridealong the upper vertical straight part 105 of the groove 103. When,however, this rounding head 1110f the screw 108 encounters the lowerhelical part 106 of the groove 103 it will turn the groovedsleeve 95' asa result of its upward motion. This turning movement of the groovedsleeve 95 is transmitted to its:post182 through the cross pin 100 fittedin the V.-grooves v101 at the upper end of each grooved sleeve 95.

.A feature of ithe invention resides in the screw 108 extendingthrough.ahorizonatllyoversize hole 112 in the sleeve 85 and the provisoof a separate set screw'113 in the collar 92 and which tightens againstthe sleeve 85, as

.besttshownin Fig. 3. 'With this'arrangement the individual wheel arms81canbe adjusted so that all the wheels swing .uniformly to propercentered position. Thus the set screws 113.canbe loosened and thecollars 92 and sliding post 82) of the wheel arms'81'rotated relative tothe fixed sleeve 85 until the wheels80areiproperly positioned when Thehorizontally. elongatedv holes or Therefore the set brought together.

The mechanism for lifting: each of the three posts 82 is preferablyconstructed as follows these mechanisms being identical in construction:

The numeral 115 represents a U-shaped bracket the upper cross part ofwhich is secured, as by bolts 116 and 118, to the subplate 20, a metalspacer 119 being shown ..as interposed between theseparts. .Thedepending side legs120 of this bracket are generally radially disposedwith reference to the axis of the turntable 13 and carry, on the sideadjacent the axis of the turntable, a pivot -pin121. On this pivot pinis pivoted the inner channel 'arm '122 of a jointed arm structure, thisinner part of which is shown asbeing U-shaped in cross section, theupstanding flanges 1'23 carrying,'adjacent the axis of the turntable, apivot -pin 124. A roller is mounted on .this pi vot 12 4. .Thisrollersengages the underside of a vverticallyfslidingi followers126,preferably in the.:form of ..a.collar slidable on the.sleeve;nut-41;.and having a lower -mechanism which supports this wheel.

radially outwardly I projecting flange "127 'which engages is raised andlowered in synchronism with other operations of the record changer andfor this purpose is shown as provided with a roller 128 mounted ona pinprojecting radially outwardly from the hub of this follower 126. Theupper surface of this roller is engaged by a circular face cam 129depending from a gear 130 nearthe teeth thereof. This gear can berotated by anysuitable mechanism (not shown). In order topreventrotation of the follower 126 a depending post 131 is suitablysecured to the underside of the bed plate 20 andis arranged-in a notch132 provided in the flange'129 of this'follower, as best shown in Fig.6.

Each inner channel bar 122 also carries a .horizontal pivot pin 133extending through its upstanding flanges 123, this pivot pin preferablybeing located close to the supporting bracket 115 at the end of thischannelibar remote from the pivot pin 124. A secondv outer channel .arm134 is provided as an adjustable extension of the first or inner channelarm 122 so that thesetwo channel arms 122, 134 jointly provide a jointedarm structure. For this purpose the second or outer channel arm 134 isarranged with its flanges 135 projecting downwardly and embraces theupstanding flanges 123 of the first or inner channel arm 122. Theseflanges 135 of the second or outer channel arm 134 are also extended toprovide'ears 136 and the pivot pin 133 extends through these ears andthrough the flanges 123 of thefirst or inner channel arm 122 embracedthereby.

The oppositeends of the depending flanges 1350f this second channel arm134 are alsoextended in theiform of cars 138 which carry a pivot pin1'39. On:each'of these pivot pins is mounted a rol1er;140 whichengagesthe head 98 at the lower end of the corresponding post 82.

A screw M1 extends through the crosspart of the first or inner channelarm 122 near the outerendthereof. The shank of this screw screws againstthe cross part of the companion second or outer channel arm 134. ,A looknut 142 is also provided which tightens against the underside of thecross part of the firstor inner channel arm 122.

A particular feature of the inventionresides in "the counterbalancing ofthe weight of each wheel '80rand' the To this rendza counterbalancingspring 145 is provided'ibetween eachtof the inner channel arms 122 andthe subplate 20. Each of these springs can be in the form of 'a-helicaltension spring the lower end of which is threaded througha hole 146 inone flange 123 of the corresponding inner channel arm 122 and the upperend of which'can be threaded through a hole in a strip of bendable metal148 projecting out from the underside of the filler piece 119:andsecured to the underside of this filler piece by the bolt 116. *By

- bending the free end of the bendableextension 148 up or down theeffect of the tension spring 145* canbe varied to effect the desireddegree of counterbalance of each wheel 80 and its associated post andthe lifting mechanism for this post.

Operation The general operation of the record changer is described ingreater detail in the said patents first referred to and to whichreference is made for a more detailed description. In general, in'thestarting position the wheels 80 are in an elevated position and swung-to-a position out of the record zone, asillustrated by full lines in Fig.1, and the tone arm 76 is heldwith each stylus 78, 78a in vertical.alinemen't with the starting ,groove 55 of the lowermost record 53,supported on .the

centerpost'spindle 36. No records are .showneon the turntable 13although the presence of the. stack of records on .the turntable wouldnot affect the-operation except thatthe wheels 80 would be driven fromthe topmost record 53 of this stack instead of from the turntabledirectly, and the record placed on the wheels, as hereinafter described,would, of course, be placed at a higher elevation.

In this starting position the wheels 80 are in the elevated positionshown by dot dash lines in Fig. 2 and the posts 82 are also elevated. Tosupport these wheels and posts in this elevated position at the start ofthe sequence, the salient part of the downwardly facing face cam 129 isin engagementwith the roller 128 on the follower 126 and accordinglythis follower is held in a depressed position as compared with theshowing in Fig. 2. This depressed position of the follower also holdsthe three rollers 125 in a depressed position thereby hold ing the innerends of the three jointed arms 122, 134 in a depressed position andholding the rollers 140 at the outer ends of these jointed structures122, 134 in an elevated position, these jointed arm structures pivotingaround the pivot pins 121 in the fixed brackets 115.

108 are in the lower helical portions 106 of the grooves 103 in thegrooved sleeves 95 and under these conditions the arms 81 are arrangedgenerally tangential to the records and out of the record zone asillustrated by full lines in Fig. 1.

The arms 81 of the several posts 82, together with the rubber tiredwheels 80 carried thereby, are then swung inwardly so that their axesare arranged substantially to intersect one another adjacent the axis ofthe turntable 13 and these wheels 80 are also lowered so as to engagethe turntable and be driven thereby. same time the centerpost escapementis manipulated so as to drop the lowermost record 53 from the overheadstack 59 onto the wheels 80 as they are moving inwardly and are loweringto engage the turntable.

To effect this rotation and lowering movement of the posts 82 the gear130 is turned so as to move the receding portion of its downwardlydirected face cam 129 into engagement with the roller 128. This permitsthis roller 128, together with its follower 126, to rise toward the fullline positionshown in Fig. 2. In this upward movement of the follower126 it slides on the sleeve nut 41 and is prevented from turning by thefixed depending post131 extending through the edge notch 132 in theflange 127. of this follower. This rising movement of thefollower126-permits upward movement of the rollers 125 at the inner endsof the three jointed arm structures 122, 134, these jointed armspivoting about the pivot pins 121 carried by the depending U-shapedbrackets 115. This permitted upward movement of the inner ends of thesejointed arm structures 122,134 provides the simultaneous downwardmovement of the rollers 140 at the outer ends of these jointed arms.Since the posts 82 are directly supported on these rollers 140, thisdownward movement of these rollers 140 at the outer ends of the jointedarm structures 122, 134 provides a simultaneous downward movement of allof the posts 82.

As these posts 82 move downwardly, a similar downward movement of thegrooved sleeves 95 surrounding these posts is effected, these sleeves 95being prevented from turning relative to their posts 82 by the pins 100resting in the V'shaped radial grooves 101 at the upper ends of theseposts. Accordingly the downward movement of these posts 82 istransmitted to the grooved sleeves 95 and since the rounding heads 111of the screws 108 are now in engagement with the helical lower portions106 of the grooves in these grooved sleeves, the downward movement ofthese grooved sleeves results in a corresponding turning movement ofthese sleeves as determined by the lead and pitch of the helical lowerpor' tions 106 of these grooves.

At the This turning movement of these grooved sleeves is transmitted,through the pins resting in the V-shaped grooves 101, to the posts 82and the lead of the helical portions 106 of these grooves 103 is suchthat as the posts 82 lower, the arms 81 on the upper ends thereof areswung toward one another, together with the wheels 80, under the stack59 of records 53.

While the wheels 80 are so moving into the record zone, the gear 73 isturned so as to turn the gear 50 180. This rotates the sleeve 68 whichis fixed to this gear 50 and causes the finger 70 in the upper end ofthis sleeve, and which is arranged in the hole 54 of the lowermostrecord 53, to move 180 from the full line position shown in Fig. 2 andthereby shift this lowermost record to a position in axial alinementwith the sleeve 68. When this occurs this lowermost record drops andfalls on the rubber tires of the three wheels 80. The rotation of thesleeve 68 is then continued for another 180 to cause the finger 70 toenter the hole 54 of the now lowermost record 53 of the stack 59preparatory to releasing another record from this stack.

As the downward movement of the posts 82 continues, the rounding heads111 of the screws 108 enter the upper upright portions of the grooves103 in the grooved sleeve 95. Following this is no further turningmovement, of course, of the grooved sleeves 95 or the posts 82 occursand at this time the arms 81 of the several posts 82 are accuratelyalined with reference to the axis of the turntable 13. This accuratealinement is such that the axes of these arms 82 substantially intersectone another adjacent the axis of the turntable although it has beenfound that it is not desirable to have the axes of these arms actuallyintersect one another at the axis of the turntable.

Since no further turning movement of the grooved sleeves 95 and posts'82 occurs as the posts continue their downward movement, the wheels 80descend in a vertical path until they engage first the upwardly directedstylus 78a of the tone arm 76 and then the upper surface of theturntable 13. If a stack of played records is present on the turntable13 the tires of the wheels will engage the upper face of the uppermostrecord of this stack, but since the upper portions 104 of the grooves103 are vertical this condition does not alfect the accurate positioningof the arms 81 and wheels 80 of the posts 82.

When the tires of the wheels 80 engage the upper surface of the rotatingturntable 13, they are, of course, rotated by the frictional contacttherebetween. Since the record is supported on the upper surface ofthese wheels, this record will likewise be rotated by frictional contactwith these wheels. Accordingly the record will be rotated about the axisof rotation of the turntable 13 but in reverse direction. Since therecord is being played from its underside, it will be seen that thisreverse rotation is in the proper direction to effect reproduction bythe stylus 78a in its starting groove and that this stylus will travelalong the groove and properly track toward the center of the record.

When the record 53 is being played on the wheels 80 the additional loadof the three wheels 80 is placed on the motor and hence the motor slowsup and this slowing up is compensated for by arranging these wheels 80at the angle to the vertical as shown and which angularity results in astep-up drive rotating the record 53 on the wheels 80 at a higher speedthan the turntable 13. This driving of this record on the wheels 80 at ahigher speed than the turntable exactly compensates for the slowing downof the motor under the increased load of the wheels 80 so that in actualpractice the record 53 played on the wheels 80 is driven at the samespeed as the record 53 played on the turntable 13.

When the stylus 78a reaches the central part of the eccentric groove 58on the underside of the record being played a trip of any suitable form(not shown) operates a mechanism to rotate the gear- 130 a .half turn..This rotates the downwardly directly face cam 129 on, this gear andbrings the roller 128 progressively into engage? ment with the salientportion of the downwardly directed face cam 129.

This forces this roller, together with its follower 126 downwardly alongthe sleeve nut 41. This downward movement of this follower forces therollers 125 at the inner ends of the jointed arm structures 122, 134downwardly and hence forces the rollers 140 at the outer ends of thesejointed arm structures 122, 134 upwardly, these jointed arm structurespivoting around the fixed pivots 121. The upward movement of the rollers140 at the outer ends of these jointed arm structures 122, 134 moves theseveral posts 82 upwardly, this upward movement of these posts beingtransmitted through the washers 96 and springs 99 to the grooved sleeves95 surrounding these posts. These grooved sleeves 95 are also preventedfrom turning relative to these posts by the cross pins 100 in theV-shaped grooves 101 in these sleeves.

This upward movement of these posts 82 causes a simultaneous upwardmovement of the three wheels 80 and immediately breaks the drivingcontact between thesewheels and the turntable 13 so that these wheels,and the record 53 supported thereon, only continue to rotatethrough suchmomentum of these parts as exists. Since at this time the rounding heads111 of the screws 108 are in the upper vertical parts 104 of the grooves103 in the grooved sleeves 95, the record is raised directly upwardlyand maintained concentric with the axis of the turntable 13. Accordinglythere is no tendency for the stylus 78a to be shifted from the inner end58 of the groove 56 on the underside of the record 53 and to scratch therecord or become displaced. As the wheels continue to rise the recordrises above thestylus 78a and loses contact therewith. At this time amechanism (not shown) initiates the movement-of the tone arm 76 out ofthe record zone and toward the full line position shown in Fig. 1.

As the posts 82 continue to rise, therounding heads 111 of the screws108 enter the helical portions 106 of the grooves 103 in thegrooved-sleeves 95. Accordingly further upward movement of these groovedsleeves 95 causes them to turn and this turningimovement is transmittedthrough the pins 100, to the posts 82 andlso asto swing the arms 81 atthe upper ends of these posts outwardly toward'the full linepositionshown-in-Fig. 1.

As the wheels 80 so movetowardthe full linesposition shownin Fig. 1, theopposing portions of their peripheriespresent a widening funnelshapedsupport for the edge of the record 53 carried by the wheels 80. As thisfunnel shaped support widens, through: the spreading of the wheels 80,the, recordis gently loweredtuntil it reaches alinement with the axes ofthe .wheels, when it drops from .the opposing edges of the wheels .80on: to the turntable 13.

The tone-arm 76 is then swung inwardly to position its stylus 78 abovethe starting groove. onthe upper face of the record 53'now. on theturntable. Following this the tone arm 76 is lowered so that its stylus784enters the starting groove 55 of this record. Thestylus 78accordingly follows the groove on the upper side of the record 53' onthe turntable, and this stylus tracks along th'isgroove until it reachesthe central groove 58 of this record. 7

When the stylus 78' reaches this central eccentric groove 58, a tripdevice (not shown) is actuated toelfect raising the tone arm 76 andswing itback to the'full line position shown in Fig. 1, this being thestarting po sition assumed in this description. This cycle ofoperation-is then-repeated, the stack 59' .of-..records 53 -being played'successively. eachufirst on its underside andthen on \itsupper faceuntil the entire. stack has "been played. When; this-:o ecurs,=: the;stack of played" ;records; on the turntable 13 is manually lifted toremove the same;

When the uppermost recordvofthis stack encountersrthe lower end of thesleeve, 63 on: the upperolfsetend 60 of the centerpost stem 36, thissleeve is lifted to expose the curving recess 62. As the recordssuccessively pass this curving recess they are successively shiftedlaterally by the curvature of this recess into alinement with the offset60 and hence this offset presents no substantial interference withthefree removal of the stack of played records fromthe turntable 13. 1

A particular feature of the invention resides in the counterbalancingsprings 145. The weight of the wheels 80, the posts 82, andthejointedarm structures 122, 134 are effectively counterbalanced by thetension of these springs so as to reduce wear of both the wheels andalso the records 53 but more particularly to insure a faithfulreproduction of the records. and substantially free from so-called wows.It has been found that by counterbalancing these parts so as to insure avery light contact between the undersides of the'wheels 80and theturntable .13 or the uppermost record supported by the turntable, arecord supported .on these wheels 80 will be driven at a uniform speedand is not subject to minor acceleration or deceleration as develop theso-c alled wows in the reproduction. This feature of the invention isparticularly important where the record being played are warped so as tohave an undulating surface. The degree of counterbalance of thesesprings 145 can readily be adjusted by bending the bendable extensions148 to which the upper ends of these springs are anchored either up ordown as maybe required.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the use of thejointed arm structures 122, 134 and in having the adjusting screws 141to adjust the angular relation of these two sections 122, 134 of thejointed arm structures. By adjusting these screws 141 the position ofthe outer rollers 140 canbe accurately adjusted with reference totheinner rollers 1250f these jointed-arms. Accordingly through theseadjusting screws the movement of the several wheels 80 can be exactlysynchronized with reference to one another so. that all of these wheelsare at the same elevation when the record is dropped from the overheadstack 59 and also so that all of these wheels engage the turntable 13,or the uppermost record supported thereon, at exactly the same time.

A further important feature is the ability to readily synchronize thewheels 80 so that all of these wheels move to theproper. operativeposition. Thus in setting up the-player, before the set screws 113 (Fig.3) are tightened, the arms 81' carrying the wheels 80 together with thesliding posts 82, groovedsleeves 95 and collars 92) are swung. toproperly position the wheels. Such swinging relative to the fixedsleevesis-permitted by the horizontally elongated slots112 (Fig. 3). Theset screws 113 are then tightened to maintain such adjustment.

It will be seen that the'present invention provides a device of thecharacter described which is composed of simple and rugged parts whichcan be easily machined at low cost and in which proper adjustment isreadily effected and whichadjustment will not changein normal use of therecord changer.

I claim:

1. In a disk record player, the combination of a. stationary support, aplurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support inannulararrangementabout the generally vertical "playing axis of the records, apost member slidi-ngly and rotatablymounted ineach of saidsleevemembers, a generally horizontal army at the upper end 'of each-ofsaidpost'members, a wheel'rotatably mounted at-theouter end of each of' saidarms a rotating'drive member on-said support below and'engageable withat leastoneof said wheels to rot-atethesame, a generally helicallgroove-in each of one of said members-concentric therewith,'- a:projection'on :each :of the :otherrof said' menu hers-and projectingintothe correspondinghelical groove; eachrof :said helical groovesbeingtarranged to transmit the lowering movement of itspost member-intoa turning movement thereof in a direction to move its. said arm towardsaid axis inrwhich'direction. a record placed on said wheels concentricwith said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and meansarrangedto simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprisingan arm structure associated with each of said post members and eacharr'nstructure having its "inner end arranged under said support t'oproject'radia'lly from said axisand' each and structure having'its'outerend operatively connected with .the"lower end of a corresponding postmember, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures-tosaid support at a point adjacent to but spacedfrom the extremity of saidinner end, and means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise aridlowerthesaidinner ends of said arm structures in unison. i

' 2. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, aplurality'of vertical sleeve members carried by said'support in annulararrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, apost member'slidingly and rotatably mounted at each of said sleevemembers, a generally horizontal armat the upper end of each 'of saidpost members, a' wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each ofsaid arms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageablewith at least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helicalgroove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projectionon each of the other of said members and projecting into thecorresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves beingarranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into aturning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward saidaxis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric withsaid axis 'will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and meansarranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprisingan arm structure associated with each 'of said post members and each armstructure having its inner end arranged under said support toproject'radially from said axis and each arm structure having its outerend operatively connected with the lower end of a corresponding postmember, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures tosaid support at a point adjacent to but spaced from the extremity ofsaid inner end, and means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise andlower the said inner ends of said arm structures in unison, comprising avertically movable follower sleeve concentric with said axis and havingan undersurface engageable with the said inner ends of said armstructures, and means arranged to raise and lower said follower sleeve.

3. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, aplurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annulararrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, apost member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleevemembers, a generally horizontal arm at-the upper end of each of saidpost members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of saidarms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageablewithat least one of said wheels to rotate the same, agenerally helicalgroove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projectionon each of the other of said members and projecting intothecorresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves beingarranged to transmit the loweringmovernent of its post member'into aturning movement thereof in a direction'to move its said arm toward saidaxis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric withsaid axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and means arranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post mem bers, -comprising,an arm'structure associated with each of said vpost members and eacharmstructure having its inner end. arranged under said support to' projectradially from saidaxis andeachaa'rm structure having its outer endoperatively connected with the lower end of a corre sponding postmember, a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures tosaid support at a point adjaccnt to but spaced from the extremity ofsaid inner end, and means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise andlower the said inner ends of said arm structures in unison, comprising aroller at the said inner end of each of said arm structures, avertically movable follower sleeve concentric with said axis and havingan undersurface engageable with said rollers, and means arranged toraise and lower said follower sleeve.

4. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, aplurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annulararrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, apost member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleevemembers, a generally horizontal arm at the upper end of each of saidpost members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of saidarms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable withat least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helicalgroove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projectionon each of the other of said members and projecting into thecorresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves beingarranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member intoturning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward saidaxis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric withsaid axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and meansarranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprisingan arm structure associated with each of said post members and each armstructure having its inner end arranged under said support to projectradially from said axis and each arm structure having its outer endoperatively connected with the lower end of a corresponding post member,a horizontal pivot connecting each of said arm structures to saidsupport at a point adjacent to but spaced from the extremity of saidinner end, means adjacent said axis and arranged to raise and lower thesaid inner ends of said arm structures in unison, and a counterbalancingspring interposed between said support and each of said arm structuresand biasing the outer ends of said arm structures upwardly.

5. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, aplurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annulararrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, apost member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleevemembers, a generally horizontal arm at the upper end of each of saidpost members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of saidarms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable withat least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helicalgroove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projectionon each of the other of said members and projecting into thecorresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves beingarranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into aturning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm towardsaidaxis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentricwith said axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and meansarranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprisinga plurality of jointed arms arranged under said support to projectradially from said axis and each jointed arm having its outer endoperatively connected with the lower end of a corresponding post member,each of said jointed arms comprising an inner section, an outer section,a horizontal pivot connecting adjacent ends of said sections, and meansarranged to adjust the relative angularity of said sections about theconnecting pivot, a horizontal pivot connecting a central part of eachof said jointed arms to said support, and means adjacent 13 said axisand arranged to raise and lower the inner ends of said jointed arms inunison.

6. In a disk record player, the combination of a stationary support, aplurality of vertical sleeve members carried by said support in annulararrangement about the generally vertical playing axis of the records, apost member slidingly and rotatably mounted in each of said sleevemembers, a generally horizontal arm at the upper end of each of saidpost members, a wheel rotatably mounted at the outer end of each of saidarms, a rotating drive member on said support below and engageable withat least one of said wheels to rotate the same, a generally helicalgroove in each of one of said members concentric therewith, a projectionon each of the other of said members and projecting into thecorresponding helical groove, each of said helical grooves beingarranged to transmit the lowering movement of its post member into aturning movement thereof in a direction to move its said arm toward saidaxis in which direction a record placed on said wheels concentric withsaid axis will be supported on and driven by said wheels, and meansarranged to simultaneously raise and lower said post members, comprisinga plurality of jointed arms arranged under said support to projectradially from said axis and each jointed am having its outer endoperatively connected with the References Cited in the file of thispatent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,512,121 Thevenaz June 20, 1950 2,555,910Wilber June 5, 1951 2,611,619 Cambron et a1. Sept. 23, 1952 2,621,933Fordeck Dec. 16, 1952 2,637,559 Stolberg May 5, 1953 2,639,155 GrovesMay 19, 1953 2,661,217 Bidinger Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 382,276Great Britain Oct. 17, 1932

